“The SYRIZA government instead of filing a lawsuit against Novartis and claiming compensation, Thanos Pleuris did it,” said Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis speaking on the “Today” show on SKAI.

He added that a trial has been set, since as he said “we received the conclusion of the American state with the compromise made by the company admitting unfair practices in Greece and we have filed an appeal requesting compensation of 1 million euros”.

The Minister of Health said that the appeal would have had a high chance of success had it not been for this delay, as he pointed out “SYRIZA never accused Novartis”.

For the protected witnesses, he said we officially know one as the US government paper was filed with the House committee stating he was the company’s contact person.

“The American government has admitted to us that Mr. Filistoras Destebasidis is a protected witness in America. At the same time, the same person is with us,” he said and added that “the person in question, who appears in Greece as Maximos Sarafis, testified to Mrs. Touloumbakis that Adonis Georgiadis took 2 million euros from Novartis. Which he didn’t file with the FBI in America.”

At the same time, the Minister of Health emphasized that while they know who the protected witness is, they cannot ask him why he testified in Greece and in America, because he is protected by the Court.

“The court does not hide his identity, but forbids me to file a lawsuit” he emphasized and added that with the disclosure of the amount of money received by the witness, things change with the Florida law. “The new law re-examines whether it should have protection. Also, it is provided that the protection is removed if the witness did not offer something essential for the trial”.

“Let the hoods come off”

These people accused 10 persons who were acquitted and so the witnesses contributed nothing. “The hood must be removed automatically from the law,” noted Mr. Georgiadis.

In response to the question of what will happen if the protection is lifted, what actions will he and the others who have been mentioned take, “We will do everything that is foreseen. If they are in court, they will talk and who would put them in charge” he said and added “Panhellenic has been scandalized. I expect to see in practice what I say that I have confidence in justice.”

And he concluded: “SYRIZA is afraid that if the hoods come out, they will nominate their own people.”

“I never said about a demand”

“I don’t have anything against hospitals,” the minister answered when asked about it, stressing that private doctors in areas where there are shortages could also work “hell, the moment they have taken the Hippocratic Oath”